2021-2022 Audi Dashboard Leather Delamination TSB

Owners of certain 2021-2022 Audi models may experience issues with their dashboard leather, including blistering, bubbling, wrinkling, and delamination. This problem, detailed in Audi Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 2071698/1, affects only leather-covered dashboards and can significantly impact the vehicle's interior appearance.

Symptoms

Customers have reported several visual defects with their dashboard leather. The primary symptoms include the leather of the dashboard appearing wavy, wrinkled, loose, blistering, and/or bubbling. This often results in the leather detaching from the underlying dashboard substrate. Specific examples shown in the TSB include massive, large-scale delamination (Figures 1 and 2), delamination around the defroster vent (Figure 3), detachment at bends or radii in the dashboard (Figure 4), slight blistering or bubbling on the surface (Figure 5), and wrinkles caused by material shrinkage (Figure 6).

Technical Background

Audi has identified that the dashboard leather detaches from its substrate due to a combination of manufacturing process weaknesses and extreme environmental stresses. Hot and humid climates are particularly problematic, as they can cause the material to reach its physical load limit, leading to the observed defects. While various production measures have been implemented, they have not been 100% effective, and further optimization is currently under investigation.

Repair Procedure Summary

For affected vehicles, the recommended service procedure involves replacing the entire dashboard. Technicians are instructed to follow the detailed steps outlined in the Audi Elsa repair manual. The specific path to access these instructions is Elsa>>Repair manual>>Body>>Body Interior>>70 Interior Trim>>Instrument Panel>>Instrument Panel, Removing and Installing. This process ensures that the new dashboard is installed correctly and that the issue of Audi e-tron dashboard delamination is addressed comprehensively. The labor operation for this repair is identified as 7018 5550 for 'Instrument panel replace'. Diagnostic time, including road tests before and after the service procedure, is noted as 'No allowance' with '0 TU' (Time Units).

Warranty Information

This TSB outlines specific warranty claim types for addressing dashboard leather issues, identified by Service Number 7018 and Damage Code 0030:

• Claim Type 910/110: Covers repairs up to 48 months or 50,000 miles.
• Claim Type 1GW: Covers repairs up to 96 months or 80,000 miles.

The claim comment for this procedure should be 'As per TSB 2071698/1'. If a vehicle is outside of these warranty periods, this Technical Service Bulletin serves as informational guidance only, and the repair may not be covered. All warranty claims must adhere to the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures Manual and are subject to review and audit by Audi Warranty.

Important Considerations for Owners

It's crucial for owners to understand what types of dashboard leather damage are covered under this TSB and what are not. The bulletin distinguishes between manufacturing defects and damage caused by external factors.

Defects covered by this TSB/Warranty Extension include:

• Massive, large-scale delamination (Figures 1 and 2)
• Delamination at defroster vents (Figure 3)
• Delamination at bends or radii (Figure 4)
• Slight blistering or bubbling (Figure 5)
• Wrinkles due to shrinkage (Figure 6)

Defects NOT covered by this TSB (but potentially by 'Trim items' warranty coverage) include:

• Stitching defects (Figure 7)
• Uneven seams (Figure 8)

Damage NOT warrantable under any circumstances (caused by outside influences) includes:

• Leather damaged by mechanical force (Figure 9)
• Leather detachment due to the use of harsh cleaning agents (Figure 10)
• Scratched leather surfaces (Figure 11)

When reporting this issue to a dealer, it is helpful to provide specific documentation. Audi requires photos to be uploaded to DOC-IT, including a clear photo of the visible complaint, a full vehicle photo, and ensuring the date is visible in the photo. This documentation assists the technician in accurately diagnosing and claiming the repair for Audi e-tron dashboard delamination.

NHTSA ID: 10245529